The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-09
or AM AVERAGE each wear of 2q2.

VI an average eacn year OF ~.
For the support and maintenance of the
College whore these 292 young gentlemen
were supposed to be receiving technical
training" the people OF the State were re-
quired to contribute $54, 1923 per annum :;
an amount equal to $3.50 per student.
Then it is clear, that the taxpayers of
this State are contributing more money, to
give a collegiate education to 292 young
gentlemen, nine tenths of whom are the
sons of our wealthier citizens, than the
State and counties combined pay, that
$4,000 "wool hat boys and sun-bonnet
girls in the backwoods" may be taught to
read and write.
These are cold facts which cannot be
successfully refuted, and hence, the benef-
Charles of the high school system exert
their ingenuity to detract public attention
from the unjust discrimination made be-
tween the poor children shivering in
little log school house in the country, and
the uniformed young gentlemen on dress
parade at the A. 4 M. College. To accom-
plish this end they are forced to the pitiful
argument that "the amount they receive is
only about q per cent. of the amount ex-
pended for public education, and if with
drawn, would add only two days to the
public school term. / say the estimate is
"A N We
received during the years 49,, 1913, 'S4 and
'85 more than per cent. of the school
fund, when there was only one student in
the institution as against 864 in the com
mon schools. But if Gen. Lees figures
were correct, | repeat, it would not change
the principle involved one particle.
What right have the advocates of
higher education to take the money, or any
part of it, which should belong in common
to the 100000 children of the State, and
give it to the 2s0 students at the "Tomb.
stone Industry" Two days, indeed | If
it is right to fitch two days from the scanty
time given the poor to attend school, in
order that the "rich and we'll horned" may
give their progeny collegiate education,
why may not the time be extended
to twenty or forty days? Two days taken
from each of 1854 children of the working
people OF the State, each year, in order
that one gentleman's son may study scien-
tifc agriculture under faculty at the A.
q NJ. College, not one of whom has ever
proven himself successful. practical far
mer
| deny Gen. Lees right to cut off two
days from the tuition of my son, that his
may attend the A. q NJ College and pre-
pare himself for the study of law at Har
ward, and l maintain that the figures show
tnat while am thus wronged. 1853 of nv
neIghbors and friends suffer likewise
Hence, 1t is not SO small M after after Ali
Tor while one young man is accorded The
privilege of attending the A. & NJ 200 |
days, 1854 boys and girls are, according To |
Gen. Lees calculation, kept out of school
TWO days each, or total of 172S DAYS for |
one student.
IL woeid be magnanimity on the part of |
a neigaborhood comprising 1854 bows and |
giris, II Inc parents thereof should relin-
quisn tneir right to two days tuition for
'nelr chiidren IN order that the sprightly
son OF poor widow might have the means
to attend college, yet there ia no moral Oh.
iigatlon resting on them to do SO but Il
would not be even magnanimous for the
same community to make such sacrifice /
tnat the son OF the richest man in their
MIDST should enjoy such advantages. and
the law which makes such distinctions ia
an .nexcusaoie outrage upon the rights
and interests of the masses.
!, nut ten. Lee and his apoloeists insist
mat they have wrought wonders in the
way OF progress and advancement and have
more than repaid the taxpayers of the
state Tor this extraordinary concession and
outlay. Where is the evidence of the inst
ness OF this claim, would ask? Il IL
certainly not to be found in the number az
'cientlhcaily educated young farmers sent
,uf from the college. l challenge Gen.
lee to name i've graduates of his college
9 tne expiration of the fifth year Of his
lrduous isbors in educating farmers. who
1e actually engaged in practical agricuI-
For the benefit Of your correspondent
'ernat me 70 say in conclusion. that do
'ot oppose the A. 4 N. College alone. III,
70 opposed to the high school system IN
q ana would vote any day to lease ont !,
nale and female. -'1 o1aeA
Yours truly, aWoo1 HArn